1. An interface adapter to convert a video signal having signal levels and format compliant with one of a plurality of video transmission interface specifications to a video signal compliant with a high definition multimedia interface for display upon a video display, said interface adapter comprising:
a plurality of input ports in communication with source devices whereby one source device is selected to provide said video signal and each of said input ports accept video signals that comply with one of said plurality of video transmission interface specifications;
a synchronization device in communication with the plurality of input ports for receiving and retaining said selected video signal based on timing signals in compliance with the video transmission interface specification to which said video signal conforms;
a high definition multimedia formatter in communication with said synchronization device to extract said video signal with a timing signal in compliance with said high definition multimedia interface specification, format said video signal to the voltage levels and format of the high definition multimedia interface; and
an output port to transmit said video signal in compliance with said high definition multimedia specification to a video display.
2. The interface adapter of claim 1 further comprising:
a source selector in communication with said input ports to select one of said input port to provide said video signal from one of said source devices.
3. The interface adapter of claim 2 further comprising:
an analog input port in communication with analog video sources to accept an analog video signal; and
an analog to digital converter in communication with said analog input port to receive said analog video signal and convert said analog video signal to a digital video signal and in communication with said high definition multimedia formatter to format said digitized analog video signal to the voltage levels and format of the high definition multimedia interface.
4. The interface adapter of claim 1 further comprising
a transition minimized differential signaling driver in communication with the high definition multimedia formatter to amplify and buffer said video signal in compliance with said high definition multimedia specification for transfer to said output port.
5. The interface adapter of claim 2 further comprising:
a digital video interface port in communication with a digital video interface video source to receive a digital video interface video signal for transfer to said source selector for optional selection for transfer to said output for transmission to said video display.
6. The interface adapter of claim 2 further comprising:
a high definition multimedia interface input port in communication with a high definition multimedia interface video source to receive a high definition multimedia interface video signal for transfer to said source selector for optional selection for transfer to said output for transmission to said video display.
7. The interface adapter of claim 1 wherein said plurality of video transmission interface specifications comprises a peripheral component interconnect specification, a universal serial bus specification, a personal computer memory card specification, an advanced attachment specification, a flash memory card specification, and high performance serial bus peer-to-peer data transfer protocol specification.
8. A multimedia system comprising:
a plurality of source devices whereby each source device provides a video signal that complies with one of said plurality of video transmission interface specifications;
a video display having an interface compliant with a high definition multimedia interface specification;
an interface adapter in communication with said plurality of source device to receive a selected video signal and to convert said selected video signal having signal levels and format compliant with one of the plurality of video transmission interface specifications to a video signal compliant with a high definition multimedia interface specification for transmission to and display upon the video display, said interface adapter comprising:
a plurality of input ports in communication with source devices whereby one source device is selected to provide said selected video signal and each of said input ports accept video signals that comply with one of said plurality of video transmission interface specifications;
a synchronization device in communication with the plurality of input ports for receiving and retaining said selected video signal based on timing signals in compliance with the video transmission interface specification to which said video signal conforms;
a high definition multimedia formatter in communication with said synchronization device to extract said video signal with a timing signal in compliance with said high definition multimedia interface specification, format said video signal to the voltage levels and format of the high definition multimedia interface; and
an output port to transmit said video signal in compliance with said high definition multimedia specification to a video display.
9. The multimedia system of claim 8 wherein said interface adapter comprises:
a source selector in communication with said input ports to select one of said input port to provide said video signal from one of said source devices.
10. The multimedia system of claim 9 wherein said interface adapter comprises:
an analog input port in communication with analog video sources to accept an analog video signal; and
an analog to digital converter in communication with said analog input port to receive said analog video signal and convert said analog video signal to a digital video signal and in communication with said high definition multimedia formatter to format said digitized analog video signal to the voltage levels and format of the high definition multimedia interface.
11. The multimedia system of claim 8 wherein said interface adapter comprises
a transition minimized differential signaling driver in communication with the high definition multimedia formatter to amplify and buffer said video signal in compliance with said high definition multimedia specification for transfer to said output port.
12. The multimedia system of claim 9 wherein said interface adapter comprises:
a digital video interface port in communication with a digital video interface video source to receive a digital video interface video signal for transfer to said source selector for optional selection for transfer to said output for transmission to said video display.
13. The multimedia system of claim 9 wherein said interface adapter comprises:
a high definition multimedia interface input port in communication with a high definition multimedia interface video source to receive a high definition multimedia interface video signal for transfer to said source selector for optional selection for transfer to said output for transmission to said video display.
14. The multimedia system of claim 8 wherein said plurality of video transmission interface specifications comprises a peripheral component interconnect specification, a universal serial bus specification, a personal computer memory card specification, an advanced attachment specification, a flash memory card specification, and high performance serial bus peer-to-peer data transfer protocol specification.
15. A method for converting a video signal having signal levels and format compliant with one of a plurality of video transmission interface specifications to a video signal compliant with a high definition multimedia interface for display upon a video display, said method comprising the steps of:
providing a plurality of input ports, each input port in communication with source devices that transmit video signals that comply with one of said plurality of video transmission interface specifications;
selecting one of the input ports to accept one of said video signals; receiving said video signal from said selected input port;
retaining said video signal based on timing signals in compliance with the video transmission interface specification to which said video signal conforms;
extracting said retained video signal with a timing signal in compliance with said high definition multimedia interface specification;
formatting said video signal to the voltage levels and protocol in compliance with the high definition multimedia interface; and
transmitting said video signal in compliance with said high definition multimedia specification to a video display.
16. The method of claim 15 further comprising the steps of:
providing an analog input port in communication with analog video sources to accept an analog video signal;
receiving said analog video signal from said analog input port;
converting said analog video signal to a digital video signal; and
formatting said digitized analog video signal to the voltage levels and protocol in compliance with the high definition multimedia interface.
17. The method of claim 15 further comprising the step of:
providing a transition minimized differential signaling driver to amplify and buffer said video signal in compliance with said high definition multimedia specification for transmission to said video display.
18. The method of claim 15 further comprising the steps of:
providing a digital video interface port in communication with a digital video interface video source;
receiving a digital video interface video signal from digital video interface port; and
transmitting said digital video interface video signal to the video display.
19. The method of claim 15 further comprising the steps of:
providing a high definition multimedia interface port in communication with a high definition multimedia interface video source;
receiving a high definition multimedia interface video signal from high definition multimedia interface port; and
transmitting said high definition multimedia interface video signal to the video display.
20. The method of claim 15 wherein said plurality of video transmission interface specifications comprises a peripheral component interconnect specification, a universal serial bus specification, a personal computer memory card specification, an advanced attachment specification, a flash memory card specification, and high performance serial bus peer-to-peer data transfer protocol specification.
21. An apparatus for converting a video signal having signal levels and format compliant with one of a plurality of video transmission interface specifications to a video signal compliant with a high definition multimedia interface for display upon a video display, said apparatus comprising:
means for providing a plurality of input ports, each input port in communication with source devices that transmit video signals that comply with one of said plurality of video transmission interface specifications;
means for selecting one of the input ports to accept one of said video signals;
means for receiving said video signal from said selected input port;
means for retaining said video signal based on timing signals in compliance with the video transmission interface specification to which said video signal conforms;
means for extracting said retained video signal with a timing signal in compliance with said high definition multimedia interface specification;
means for formatting said video signal to the voltage levels and protocol in compliance with the high definition multimedia interface; and
means for transmitting said video signal in compliance with said high definition multimedia specification to a video display.
22. The apparatus of claim 21 further comprising:
means for providing an analog input port in communication with analog video sources to accept an analog video signal;
means for receiving said analog video signal from said analog input port;
means for converting said analog video signal to a digital video signal; and
means for formatting said digitized analog video signal to the voltage levels and protocol in compliance with the high definition multimedia interface.
23. The apparatus of claim 21 further comprising:
means for providing a transition minimized differential signaling driver to amplify and buffer said video signal in compliance with said high definition multimedia specification for transmission to said video display.
24. The apparatus of claim 21 further comprising:
means for providing a digital video interface port in communication with a digital video interface video source;
means for receiving a digital video interface video signal from digital video interface port; and
means for transmitting said digital video interface video signal to the video display.
25. The apparatus of claim 21 further comprising:
means for providing a high definition multimedia interface port in communication with a high definition multimedia interface video source;
means for receiving a high definition multimedia interface video signal from high definition multimedia interface port; and
means for transmitting said high definition multimedia interface video signal to the video display.
26. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein said plurality of video transmission interface specifications comprises a peripheral component interconnect specification, a universal serial bus specification, a personal computer memory card specification, an advanced attachment specification, a flash memory card specification, and high performance serial bus peer-to-peer data transfer protocol specification.
27. A medium for retaining a computer program which, when executed on a computing system, performs a program process for converting a video signal having signal levels and format compliant with one of a plurality of video transmission interface specifications to a video signal compliant with a high definition multimedia interface for display upon a video display, said medium for retaining a computer program comprising the steps of:
providing a plurality of input ports, each input port in communication with source devices that transmit video signals that comply with one of said plurality of video transmission interface specifications;
selecting one of the input ports to accept one of said video signals;
receiving said video signal from said selected input port;
retaining said video signal based on timing signals in compliance with the video transmission interface specification to which said video signal conforms;
extracting said retained video signal with a timing signal in compliance with said high definition multimedia interface specification;
formatting said video signal to the voltage levels and protocol in compliance with the high definition multimedia interface; and
transmitting said video signal in compliance with said high definition multimedia specification to a video display.
28. The medium for retaining a computer program of claim 27 wherein the program process further comprises the steps of:
providing an analog input port in communication with analog video sources to accept an analog video signal;
receive said analog video signal from said analog input port;
converting said analog video signal to a digital video signal; and
formatting said digitized analog video signal to the voltage levels and protocol in compliance with the high definition multimedia interface.
29. The medium for retaining a computer program of claim 27 wherein the program process further comprises the step of:
providing a transition minimized differential signaling driver to amplify and buffer said video signal in compliance with said high definition multimedia specification for transmission to said video display.
30. The medium for retaining a computer program of claim 27 wherein the program process further comprises the steps of:
providing a digital video interface port in communication with a digital video interface video source;
receiving a digital video interface video signal from digital video interface port; and
transmitting said digital video interface video signal to the video display.
31. The medium for retaining a computer program of claim 27 wherein the program process further comprises the steps of:
providing a high definition multimedia interface port in communication with a high definition multimedia interface video source;
receiving a high definition multimedia interface video signal from high definition multimedia interface port; and
transmitting said high definition multimedia interface video signal to the video display.
32. The medium for retaining a computer program of claim 27 wherein said plurality of video transmission interface specifications comprises a peripheral component interconnect specification, a universal serial bus specification, a personal computer memory card specification, an advanced attachment specification, a flash memory card specification, and high performance serial bus peer-to-peer data transfer protocol specification.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1-9. (canceled)
10. A method for securing a closure system onto a discrete pouch, said discrete pouch having a first major surface, an oppositely aligned second major surface, a pair of sides joining said first and second major surfaces together, a closed bottom and an open top, said method comprising the steps of:
a) unwinding a web of material from a supply and advancing said web of material to a punch station, said web of material having a first surface and an oppositely aligned second surface, first and second sides, and a width dimension extending between said first and second sides;
b) punching a predetermined pattern through said web of material;
c) longitudinally folding said web of material upon itself such that said first major surface is exposed;
d) bonding said first and second major surfaces together along a single longitudinal line to form a continuous tubular structure;
e) forming a transverse seal across said continuous tubular structure, said seal being aligned adjacent to said predetermined pattern;
f) transversely slitting said continuous tubular structure adjacent to said transverse seal to form discrete pouches;
g) advancing each of said discrete pouches through a first station of a machine in a machine direction with said closed bottom leading each of said discrete pouches through said machine and with said first major surface facing upward, said first station lifting and folding a portion of said first major surface upon itself to form a lip having a first surface which is exposed, said second major surface having an inner surface and a transverse edge located adjacent to said open end, and said transverse edge being distally spaced apart from said lip such that a portion of said inner surface is exposed;
h) routing each of said discrete pouches downstream from said first station to a second station, said second station capable of positioning and attaching a closure system transversely across said exposed inner surface, said closure system including a track having a first leg and a second leg, each leg having an outer surface, said outer surface of said first leg being secured to said exposed inner surface adjacent to said transverse edge, said first and second legs being joined together by an openingclosing mechanism which includes a member capable of being manually moved back and forth such that said openingclosing mechanism can be sequentially opened and closed; and
i) routing each of said discrete pouches downstream from said second station to a third station, said third station capable of unfolding said lip and securing opposite ends of said lip to said outer surface of said second leg.
11. The method of claim 10 wherein said predetermined pattern is an approximately C-shaped configuration.
12. The method of claim 10 wherein said predetermined pattern is a pair of approximately C-shaped configuration which is spaced apart from one another.
13. The method of claim 10 wherein said web of material is longitudinally folded at six spaced apart locations to form a pair of gussets.
14. The method of claim 10 wherein said first and second surfaces are bonded together along a single longitudinal line using heat and pressure to form said continuous tubular structure.
15. The method of claim 10 wherein said transverse seal formed across said continuous tubular structure is aligned perpendicular to said machine direction.
16. A method for securing a closure system onto a discrete pouch, said discrete pouch having a first major surface, an oppositely aligned second major surface, a pair of sides joining said first and second major surfaces together, a closed bottom and an open top, said method comprising the steps of:
a) unwinding a web of material from a supply and advancing said web of material to a punch station, said web of material having a first surface and an oppositely aligned second surface, first and second sides, and a width dimension extending between said first and second sides;
b) punching a predetermined pattern through said web of material;
c) longitudinally folding said web of material upon itself such that said first major surface is exposed;
d) bonding said first and second major surfaces together at four spaced apart longitudinal lines to form a continuous tubular structure;
e) forming a transverse seal across said continuous tubular structure, said seal being aligned adjacent to said predetermined pattern;
f) transversely slitting said continuous tubular structure adjacent to said transverse seal to form discrete pouches;
g) advancing each of said discrete pouches through a first station of a machine in a machine direction with said closed bottom leading each of said discrete pouches through said machine and with said first major surface facing upward, said first station lifting and folding a portion of said first major surface upon itself to form a lip having a first surface which is exposed, said second major surface having an inner surface and a transverse edge located adjacent to said open end, and said transverse edge being distally spaced apart from said lip such that a portion of said inner surface is exposed;
h) routing each of said discrete pouches downstream from said first station to a second station, said second station capable of positioning and attaching a closure system transversely across said exposed inner surface, said closure system including a track having a first leg and a second leg, each leg having an outer surface, said outer surface of said first leg being secured to said exposed inner surface adjacent to said transverse edge, said first and second legs being joined together by an openingclosing mechanism which includes a member capable of being manually moved back and forth such that said openingclosing mechanism can be sequentially opened and closed; and
i) routing each of said discrete pouches downstream from said second station to a third station, said third station capable of unfolding said lip and securing opposite ends of said lip to said outer surface of said second leg.
17. The method of claim 16 wherein said transverse seal has a width of at least about 0.1 inches and said transversely slit is made within said transverse seal.
18. The method of claim 16 wherein said transverse seal is formed at a temperature ranging from between about 200\xb0 F. to about 500\xb0 F.
19. The method of claim 16 further comprising, after said third station, manipulating said pair of sides of said discrete pouch towards one another to create an enlarged opening between said first major surface and said outer surface of said second leg, inserting products into said discrete pouch through said enlarged opening, and sealing said outer surface of said second leg to said first major surface.
20. The method of claim 19 wherein said first major surface has an inside surface and said outer surface of said second leg is sealed to said inside surface of said first major surface.
21. A method for securing a closure system onto a discrete pouch, said discrete pouch having a first major surface, an oppositely aligned second major surface, a pair of sides joining said first and second major surfaces together, a closed bottom and an open top, said method comprising the steps of:
a) unwinding a web of material from a supply and advancing said web of material to a punch station, said web of material having a first surface and an oppositely aligned second surface, first and second sides, and a width dimension extending between said first and second sides;
b) punching a predetermined pattern through said web of material;
c) longitudinally folding said web of material upon itself such that said first major surface is exposed;
d) bonding said first and second major surfaces together along a single longitudinal line to form a continuous tubular structure;
e) forming a transverse seal across said continuous tubular structure, said seal being aligned adjacent to said predetermined pattern;
f) transversely slitting said continuous tubular structure adjacent to said transverse seal to form discrete pouches;
g) advancing each of said discrete pouches through a first station of a machine in a machine direction with said closed bottom leading each of said discrete pouches through said machine and with said first major surface facing upward, said first station lifting and folding a portion of said first major surface upon itself to form a lip having a first surface which is exposed, said second major surface having an inner surface and a transverse edge located adjacent to said open end, and said transverse edge being distally spaced apart from said lip such that a portion of said inner surface is exposed;
h) routing each of said discrete pouches downstream from said first station to a second station, said second station capable of positioning and attaching a closure system transversely across said exposed inner surface, said closure system including a track having a first leg and a second leg, each leg having an outer surface, said outer surface of said first leg contains a heat activated substance which enables said outer surface of said first leg to be thermally bonded to said first surface of said material, said outer surface of said first leg being secured to said exposed inner surface adjacent to said transverse edge, said first and second legs being joined together by an openingclosing mechanism which includes a member capable of being manually moved back and forth such that said openingclosing mechanism can be sequentially opened and closed; and
i) routing each of said discrete pouches downstream from said second station to a third station, said third station capable of unfolding said lip and securing opposite ends of said lip to said outer surface of said second leg.
22. The method of claim 21 wherein said predetermined pattern is an approximately C-shaped configuration.
23. The method of claim 21 wherein said predetermined pattern is a pair of approximately C-shaped configuration which is spaced apart from one another.
24. The method of claim 21 wherein said web of material is longitudinally folded at six spaced apart locations to form a pair of gussets.
25. The method of claim 21 wherein said first and second surfaces are bonded together along a single longitudinal line using heat and pressure to form said continuous tubular structure.
26. The method of claim 21 wherein said transverse seal formed across said continuous tubular structure is aligned perpendicular to said machine direction.
27. The method of claim 21 wherein said transverse seal is formed at a temperature ranging from between about 200\xb0 F. to about 500\xb0 F.
28. The method of claim 21 further comprising, after said third station, manipulating said pair of sides of said discrete pouch towards one another to create an enlarged opening between said first major surface and said outer surface of said second leg, inserting products into said discrete pouch through said enlarged opening, and sealing said outer surface of said second leg to said first major surface.
29. The method of claim 28 wherein said first major surface has an inside surface and said outer surface of said second leg is sealed to said inside surface of said first major surface.